Supporting Veterans into Tertiary Education and Employment

**CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY**

I’d also like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people and pay tribute to their Elders past and present.

I extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who join us here today.

I acknowledge, all those who have, or continue to serve our nation in our uniform, and families who support them.

Congratulations first of all to AIDN for pulling together another fantastic showcase event - I’m sure you’ll all be swarmed this evening when Parliamentarians and visitors have the opportunity to check out your awesome kit. 

It is also important to remember that with this kit, comes a person. 

This kit can be at the cutting edge of technology, or developed for the protection of a mate. 

It is people’s experiences, often in Defence, that give defence industry businesses the edge. 

I remember a few years ago meeting the Whiskey Project team, one of your esteemed AIDN Alumni. 

What struck me was not the watercraft they were developing at the time. 

It was the purpose behind it. 

The Whiskey Project is a veteran owned and operated company, veterans who have experience undertaking daring and dangerous work. 

But one of the dangers they didn’t expect was their very own transport. 

When you have a chat to them, ask them about the injuries they and their mates have ended up with after copping rough waters in a boat that wasn’t fit for purpose.

Following Service, the Whiskey team were compelled to develop a watercraft that they wished they’d had when they were in Service - a boat that would protect them that was also stealthy and dynamic, fit for whatever environment it was thrust into. 

That team are now taking it to the world stage, including at the White House, and I couldn’t be prouder of this group of veterans who have harnessed their experience, used their insights and skills to ensure those who come after them, will be looked after. 

Looking around this room, I know many of you share similar experiences. 

Defence industry, employs a lot of veterans with unique lived experience, and a lot of Defence industry businesses kick off with ideas, like the Whiskey Team, of kit they wished they had in service. 

In industry - you get it. 

You’ve either been, or worked alongside our Defence Personnel for years, the transition from Defence to the civilian workforce somewhat eased when you’re going into Defence industry. 

It’s familiar territory. 

You know that the attributes our Defence personnel possess: leadership, teamwork, agility, an ability to work under pressure, are skills in demand in every organisation.

A fact that in this room is long known, but outside these walls not as much. 

Veterans in the Defence industry continue contributing to the sovereign capability of our nation, as they equip the next generation of Defence personnel with what they need.

While many of you know the great potential that is employing a veteran, it’s time to share that with the rest of the nation. 

As a Government we are committed to spreading the message far and wide.

Our Government’s $24 million Veteran Employment Program, launched this year, is delivering on a commitment to shift the approach we're taking to supporting veterans into the civilian workforce.

These are some of the most resourceful and skilled individuals you will meet. 

For many civilian businesses though, they simply aren’t aware of, don’t understand, the skill set they might be tapping into when they consider employing an ex-service person. 

I can tell you they’re experienced. 

They‘re known to excel. 

That’s a big part of our program, making sure employers know the opportunity that is employing a veteran. 

We want to make sure no employer is in doubt about how their organisation could benefit from recruiting veterans and veteran families into the civilian workforce. 

But we need to make sure those employers are appropriately equipped.  

That’s why we’re announcing today, a new recruitment advisory service. 

The Australian Catholic University has been awarded an $800,000 Recruitment Advisory Service Grant to support veteran and partner recruitment and retention by developing and providing high quality, evidence based resources and advice to employers of veterans and defence partners in Australia. 

Through this grant, the ACU will work collaboratively with employers, veteran groups and HR specialists to define best policy and practice in both the recruitment, and importantly the retention of veterans and their family members in the civilian workforce. 

That’s something each and every one of you in this room can not only contribute to, but ultimately benefit from too. 

Perhaps by making slight adjustments to what you’re doing now, that will pay dividends in the long run – and it will give an employer who might be still on the fence, the confidence to employ a veteran for the first time.   

We also know that for many of you who are former Defence, it hasn’t been easy to roll your experience from the ADF into a formal qualification, or see the application in the civilian workplace.

That’s why we’re also announcing five Recognition of Prior Learning Grants that will go to universities in an effort to deliver or enhance recognition of prior learning in Defence, to better reflect the skills and knowledge personnel gain in service to open up more streamlined routes into university and more quickly obtain starting qualifications. 

These programs will build on the expanding recognition of prior learning in the vocational education space, to include tertiary university education too. 

We’ll see Flinders University mapping roles and jobs to better recognise the skill sets of veterans as they transition to civilian employment. 

Australian Catholic University will develop a framework for assessment of ADF courses as “micro units” of study that will contribute towards higher education that they hope will ultimately be rolled out across higher education institutions nationwide. 

University of Canberra set out to establish the “Connected - University of Canberra Veterans’ Tertiary Support Program“ to provide a tailored virtual front door for veterans to have their military service and experience recognised to support their entry into University of Canberra courses. 

University of NSW intend to establish a “Veteran Pathways into Professional Education” scheme to provide targeted support to veterans to investigate how their existing skills and experience translate in a civilian context and how this might be further enhanced through education. 

They’ll also provide veterans with access to employability coaches and support advisers.  

And Charles Darwin University will expand its existing recognition of prior learning program to the veteran community, hand in hand with its Defence Transition Project Officer. 

Congratulations to each and every one of you – your work is of vital importance. 

We’ve learnt the lessons of the past.

We know that in order for veterans to succeed, we need to set up systems that will enable that.

We need to work with those who have that lived experience - be it of Defence, of education or business. 

Work with them rather than tell them what to think.  

These grants today will help bridge Defence and civilian life. 

This is a significant step towards creating a better, more inclusive future for Australian Veterans. 

This will help set people up for success. 

And what will this mean for Defence industry? 

You’ll be better supported in employing veterans, veterans that will have better access to further education, you’ll have the opportunity to work with some of the finest minds in this country, a true honour… and you’ll be able to look to your counterparts across other sectors and say… I told you so.
 

ENDS

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608